Rome, 25 October 2001 - The deepening food crisis in Afghanistan is threatening
Afghans with mass starvation, according a special report released today by
the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. The report warns that the food
supply situation in countries bordering Afghanistan is also seriously undermined
by a prolonged drought. "This year's food production in Pakistan, Iran,
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan has suffered a significant reduction
due to serious drought. The unfavourable food supply situation, which has
prompted emergency food assistance in some of these countries, therefore
gives little comfort to millions of displaced and resident Afghans who in
the past could meet part of their food needs with supplies from neighbouring
countries."

Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran have been supporting millions of
refugees from past conflicts but their capacity to cope with the new arrivals
is seriously compromised due to insufficient resources, the report says.

While the majority of Afghans are facing severe food supply difficulties,
some 7.5 million most affected people are in desperate need of food aid.
WFP plans to deliver 52,000 tonnes of food aid per month to feed the most
vulnerable people, both refugees (1.5 million) and resident population (6
million) in Afghanistan. However, transport and distribution difficulties
are hampering the delivery of the required volumes. Some of the food would
have to be airlifted to inaccessible areas of the country, in particular
the central highlands before the onset of harsh winter in mid-November.

The current adverse situation coincides with the planting season for wheat,
which accounts for 80 percent of the country's total cereal production. With
the population largely on the move, serious shortages of inputs and a disruption
of farming activities by military operations, cereal production in 2001 to
meet consumption needs duriing 2001/02 (July/June) is set to decline
significantly. This would further aggravate the already grave food supply
situation in the country.

When the conflict is finally resolved, mid-term agricultural
rehabilitation/reconstruction measures in Afghanistan will need to address
the reconstruction of irrigation systems, input supply to farmers, farm power,
rehabilitation of orchards, livestock and forestry sub-sectors, extension
and education and institutional capacity-building. FAO has estimated that
some US$200 million would be required for the implementation of a countrywide
agricultural sector emergency relief and rehabilitation programme.

Even before the events of 11 September, Afghanistan was gripped by a grave
food crisis following three consecutive years of drought and intensifying
economic problems due to continuing civil conflict.

The FAO report warns that rainfed wheat production in Pakistan is estimated
at about 541,000 tonnes in 2001, nearly 70 percent below the average of the
last five years and 62 percent below last year's reduced crop. However, as
about 90 percent of wheat production is irrigated, the overall impact of
the drought was not as great. Nevertheless, total wheat production (irrigated
and rainfed) in 2001 was estimated at 18.73 million tonnes, still significantly
below the 21 million tonnes harvested last year. The total cereal production
in 2001 is estimated at 26.5 million tonnes, 13 percent below last year's
harvest, the report says.

Pakistan is hosting some 2 million Afghan refugees from the earlier conflict.
However, refugee numbers are on the increase due to recent events.

In Iran the disastrous consequences of three consecutive years of drought
continue to be felt in all sectors of the economy. A UN inter-agency report
released in July estimated that about 90 percent of the population (urban,
rural and nomadic) have been severely affected. The shortage of water in
rivers and the rapidly falling water tables have resulted in an acute scarcity
of drinking water in both rural and urban areas. Large sections of the rural
population and their livestock in the affected provinces have started migrating
to other areas in search of water. An estimated 200,000 nomadic livestock
owners are reported to have lost their only source of livelihood.

In Tajikistan, drought, water shortages, dilapidated irrigation systems and
structural problems have worsened the food supply situation this year compared
to last year when a large deficit was experienced, with food supplies remaining
very tight throughout the year, according to the report. The two main rivers,
Amu and Syr, feeding the extensive irrigation system of the country, have
been flowing at about 50 percent of the average levels.

Severe water shortages and drought two years in succession have significantly
impacted crop production in Uzbekistan, the report says. "Water flows in
the two main sources of irrigation, the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers are
reported to be about 40 percent of the average flows, while record hot and
dry weather conditions have increased demand for irrigation water." In addition,
high levels of salinity are reported to contaminate the scarce water supply.

This year's total grain output is not expected to exceed 3.4 million tonnes,
about 500,000 tonnes less than the poor harvest of last year and about one
million tonnes less than in 1999 when production was considered average.
Wheat production is estimated at 3.2 million tonnes and rice at 100,000 tonnes,
compared with 1999 production levels of 3.6 million tonnes of wheat and 421,000
tonnes of rice.

In Turkmenistan, drought and irrigation water shortages for two years in
succession have affected crop production. Reservoirs fed by the Amu Darya,
providing nearly 90 percent of the country's irrigation needs, have been
significantly lower than the previous year, while the Murghab river supplying
irrigation water to Mary province has been virtually dry for most part of
the cropping season this year.

FAO tentatively forecasts grain output at similar levels to its estimates
of 2000, including 1.4 million tonnes of wheat, 50,000 tonnes of barley,
20,000 tonnes of maize and 20,000 tonnes of rice. Grain production levels
were maintained due to some increase in area under wheat. The worst affected
areas are once again Mary province (bordering Iran and Afghanistan) and Dashagouz
(bordering Karaklpakstan region of Uzbekistan). The cereal import requirement
for 2000/01 is estimated at about 40,000 tonnes.

**********

The Special Report on Afghanistan and Central Asia is available on the Internet
as part of the FAO World Wide Web at the following URL address:
http://www.fao.org/giews/. For further
information or to arrange interviews, please contact: The FAO Media Relations
Office at telephone number: +39 06 5705 3625 E-mail:
john.riddle@fao.org